As PerthNow reports, Australian engineer Marc Pivac has developed a fully automated bricklaying robot this is capable of building a home in just two days. Named Hadrian, after the Roman emperor who build defense walls in England, the robot can work day and night, lay 1,000 bricks per hour, and can build 150 homes in a single year.

After ten years of research and development, the Perth-based inventor claims to have built the first fully automated bricklaying robot.

Credit: Fastbrick Robotics

Credit: Fastbrick Robotics

The Hadrian robot uses 3D computer-aided design (CAD) to minimize waste, and can guarantee accuracy to within one-hundredth of an inch. Furthermore, the machine creates a CAD drawing to determine the location and size of every brick before it cuts the brick, puts it in place with a 28-meter-long telescopic boom, and seals the placement with mortar.

While perhaps bittersweet and awe-inspiring at the same time, the Hadrian technology has clearly surpassed the capabilities of humans, even if bricklaying is one of humanity’s most ancient trades. On the plus side, the robot reduces the risk of worker injuries and, obviously, increases production time substantially. It may also lead to more affordable housing in the future.

Credit: Fastbrick Robotics

Credit: Fastbrick Robotics

Credit: Fastbrick Robotics

The one downside would be that with automation comes potential job loss. But the inventor doesn’t believe this is anything to worry about. According to Pivac, there aren’t available bricklayers in Perth, a main issue that inspired his invention.

“We have absolutely nothing against bricklayers,” Pivac told PerthNow. “The problem is the average age of bricklayers is going up and it’s difficult to attract new young people to the trade.”

Credit: Fastbrick Robotics

With that news, this advancement opens up many potential outcomes – good and bad.